...of unreasoned rituals that are very common nowadays. This is what superstition is all about. It is about incoherent beliefs and customs carried out with increasing popularity, by people all around the world. It is an irrational belief that does not have any fact or reason to support it. Its essence therefore lies in blind beliefs and habits that are generally accepted in a particular society and are scientifically unexplainable. There are literally hundreds of different types of superstition beliefs around the world. Some people take these very seriously but others just laugh them off. Superstitions may have begun hundreds of years ago when people didn't have the knowledge that we have nowadays. For instance people used to think that their shadows or reflections were part of their souls, because they didn't understand the concept of the sun or moon making shadows. Moreover, it is likely that learned people used superstitions as a means to make the general population abide with certain basic principle of life in order to ensure safety precautions or prevent a situation of fear to arise. For instance walking under a ladder leaning against a wall is perceived to be dangerous, as knocking against it can, not only be dangerous to the person standing on the ladder but also to the person walking under it. Therefore to ensure compliance to such basic safety precautions, this may have given rise to the said superstition of ,”Walking under a ladder brings you bad luck”. It is often said...
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...When a situation is vague or risky, some people find it comforting to make a routine to give them a sense of security and greater control. This routine has the potential to develop into a ritualistic practice that fluctuates depending on the results. Although some would not admit it, the games of sports have deep roots in the realm of superstitions. It is a game of chance in which players have little control over the outcome of their hard work and fans have an even more reduced role in the result. In normal, daily situations, I do not consider myself a superstitious person. Yet, when I'm watching my favorite sport (basketball) I do find myself engaging in illogical activities. These rituals take control of me and I find myself replicating such actions in hopes of continuing a streak. I have always been captivated with the thought of luck and sports. However, it was not until I was about 9 years old when at least I thought my superstition held a direct impact on the outcome of a game. I was watching a very important basketball game, Game 6 of the NBA Finals June 14, 1998. The defending champion Chicago Bulls went up against the Utah Jazz. Of course I, like every other kid on the planet was a Bulls fan and more importantly a Michael Jordan fan. The stage was set for Michael and the Bulls to win a third straight title after a two season hideous from Michael to pursue his baseball career. With one minute to go the score was tied 83 – 83. Jordan just hit two big free throws. As...
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...Superstition “is a belief, half-belief, or practice for which there appears to be no rational substance.” People tend to believe that they have their own certain knowledge or evidence that supports religious beliefs or philosophical reasoning’s. This leads people into believing that they have more control than the reality and actuality of all situations and circumstances. Many customs that we take for granted as being a “normal” part of our culture have actually evolved from superstitious beliefs of the past. There are two examples that grabbed my attention the most out of the video. The first one being in 1948 American Psychologist BF Skinner reported some unusual animal behavior. He placed a succession of hungry pigeons inside a cage, where an automated machine delivered food to them at certain intervals. He observed that the birds started repeating actions that coincided with the delivery of the food. They acted as if their behavior was causing the food to appear but in fact the food would have appeared regardless of any action the birds decided to make. The second is the Magician compared to the Medium example. When a magician performs that magical work they put on, the question that normally rises is “What’s their trick?” Then when the Medium does likewise, the question transforms to a statement: “They must have supernatural powers”. In the middle lie uncannily accurate details about your life and relationships. In reality neither person possess anything more or less than...
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...everyone. Growing up, my dad was superstitious. He didn’t like the number thirteen or black cats. He would never walk under a ladder and was very careful not to break a mirror. I used to laugh at him but doing this research has made me realize that I’m superstitious in some ways too so I should probably call him and apologize when I’m done. All countries have their own superstitions that they believe in. First we are going to look at the different superstitions each country follows. Arturo Bartolome lives in Spain and tells the superstition of Salamanca University. There is a frog carved on the wall in front of the doors to the school. Students must touch the frog for luck on test days. It’s believed if they do not touch the frog, they will be unsuccessful. In Korea, they believe if they see ravens or crows in the morning they will have bad luck for the rest of the day. People there do not wash their hair on test days because it will wash away their memory if what was studied. They don’t cut their nails at night because they believe a rodent will eat them and take their spirit. That superstition came about when...
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...Superstitions in India 1. A sack full of rice will be spoilt when touched by women in periods! it will also get spoilt if touched by women after having sex 2. Coconut tree, Ashoka Tree, Banyan Tree etc are considered sacred 3. The tail end of cows is considered as most sacred part as fortune Lakshmi lives there!!, 4. The "VAASTU" as a guide for floor plans of a house is a superstitious system, 5. East is the most preferred direction for all activities (I've seen some of them preferring to sit facing east even in the office), 6. Do not proceed , if a cat crosses your way, it brings omen 7. Looking at cat in the morning is jinx, 8. Looking at mother's face or picture of God as soon as you open your eyes in the morning will bring good luck for that day, 9. Giving or taking anything in the left hand is bad (you know what left hand is used for in India ) 10. Never ask the question "where are you going? " while they are leaving house, its purpose will not be fulfilled. 11. Repeatedly yawning indicates that someone is remembering you, 12. Sneezing odd no. of times indicates that something bad could happen, 13. Sneezing once when you make a statement indicates that what you said is true, 14. If a lizard makes a sound when you make a statement, it indicates that what you said is true , 15. Tuesdays & Saturdays are inauspicious for doing anything new or good deeds, 16. Monday is inauspicious day for shaving and thursday is inauspicious...
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...SUPERSTITIONS AND DREAM INTERPRETATIONS IN THE DUCHESS OF MALFIAND ALL FOR LOVE Superstition, a sort of a feeling that takes umpteen number of forms and at times frightens life out of people, takes a special place in the life of a person which might make a person float on cloud nine or perish in dungeons. Superstitions are universal and they do exist even now in the 21st century and the plays before three centuries are no exceptions. The plays during the 16th and 17th centuries were abounding with superstitious beliefs which might seem ridiculous in the present scenario. In this paper we shall see the role of superstitious beliefs and dreams in The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster and All for Love by John Dryden. The Duchess of Malfi is a revenge tragedy and unlike other revenge tragedies here the villain himself avenges the death of the Duchess. The Duchess is a young widow who is in love with Antonio, the manager of her house hold and is steadfast on marrying him. In spite of the threatening of her brothers she marries Antonio with the aid of Cariola. Ferdinand, one of her brothers employs Bosolo to spy her. Ferdinand apart from eyeing the fortune of the Duchess he also eyes her beauty. But Cardinal, the other brother of the Duchess is worried only about her wealth. Bosola passes the news that the Duchess has given birth to a child and Ferdinand in unquenchable fury banishes the Duchess. Ferdinand with the help of Bosola gains a fake key to the chamber of the Duchess and...
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...ANTI SUPERSTITION AND BLACK MAGIC ACT Anti Superstition And Black Magic Act B.A.L.L.B(Hons) Roll No-36 ABSTRACT Superstition is a belief that is not backed by scientific evidence. It is irrational faith in something without a proper explanation. Superstitions are rampant in India and have claimed many lives over the years. The Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill 2013 is the first of its kind in India and was passed on 18th December, 2013. The bill was first drafted by social activist and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2003. The bill faced heavy criticism and cost Dabholkar his life. He was shot dead by unknown assailants in August, 2013, nearly 4 months before the bill was passed. The Anti- Superstition Act is the first of its kind in the country and has been dealing with superstition effectively since its implementation last year. Other states such as Karnataka and Assam are also contemplating an Anti -Superstition Bill. This article provides the meaning and causes of superstition. It also discusses the history of the anti- superstition act in Maharashtra, its scope, limitations and subject matter KEYWORDS Superstition, Maharashtra, anti- superstition bill, Narendra Dabholkar, black magic, blind faith, Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) INTRODUCTION ...
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...There are many superstitions throughout this book that play a very important role. Most of them dignify a person’s character and their beliefs. Superstitions are things that people make seem true but they are not. Most superstitions are created to scare people or change their evil ways. In chapter X, Jim and Huck are discussing how Jim says that it is bad luck to touch a snakeskin with your hands. Huck doesn’t believe him because they found money in an overcoat they took from a house that was tilted on its side from the flood. This superstition symbolizes the relationship between Huck and Jim. In the beginning Huck didn’t believe in helping slaves, but as the story progresses he learns don’t have many differences. This superstition is about Huck flinging a spider into a candlestick, he believes that killings spiders brings bad luck. He tries a lot of different methods to keep from form wishing bad luck upon him. This superstition tells us about Hucks childhood and the things he was taught. We can also tell he is uneducated. There are a series of superstitions in chapter IV, Jim tells Huck about these situations that will bring him bad luck. He mentions how birds predict the weather, and if you catch a bird it brings death upon you or your family. Hucks mindset is based off of superstitions, but when it comes to everyday knowledge Jim is inexperienced. This is the reason why he doesn’t quite know how to get himself out of certain situations. In conclusion...
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...The people of Jocasse are controlled by superstition instead of history, which would help them learn from past mistakes and create a stronger community. Throughout the Ron Rash novel, characters are shown embracing and inviting superstitious ideals. No characters are untouched by the false beliefs propagated within, and without, the area. The superstitions cause terrible things to happen to people and their surroundings. Some are shunned for no reason, except that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This treatment is indicative of the personalities of numerous characters. Broadcasted high and low, these glorified rumors are commonplace due to stories passed from person to person. The people of Jocasse have been told superstitious stories all their lives. This creates...
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...Brown Superstitions What would you think if a black cat crossed your path on your way to school? Or if you accidentally dropped a mirror and it shattered into a million pieces? I know what most of you would be thinking- I’m doomed!! That is because black cats and breaking a mirror are two very famous superstitions. “What are superstitions?” many of you may ask, “and how did they originate?” Well, today you are going to find out. Good evening teachers and students. How many of you ever heard that it is bad luck to spill salt or that it is good luck to say “Bless You” to a person after they have sneezed? I’m sure many of you have heard those superstitions, but did you ever wonder who made them up? Many famous superstitions such as the one about black cats originated in early Christianity or in Ancient times. In Ancient Egypt, people believed in mythical gods. One of those gods was a black female cat named Bastet, and since Christians were trying to get rid of other religions, black cats and their owners were burned. After many years, black cats were thought to have another meaning - evil. They were believed to have supernatural powers of evil and be associated with witches and demons. People believed that if any black cat crossed your path, this was a sign that the devil was thinking about you and blocking your way to Heaven. Many years ago, it was proven that black cats weren’t evil, but to this day people still try to avoid having a black cat cross their path. Although...
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...being measured and it is dependent on other factors. The independent variable is not changed by other variables and is the one being manipulated. Within Experiment 1, the dependent variable is the amount of anagrams solved and the independent variables are the degree of superstition of the individual and amount of words contained in the puzzles. The primary hypothesis of this experiment would be that, a higher degree of superstition will lessen the development of learned helplessness, which will be achieved as an increasing degree of superstition will allow for an increase in amount of anagrams solved. Explain the difference between an experimental and a quasi-experimental design. Which of these terms would best describe Experiment 1, and why? The difference between an experimental and a quasi-experimental design is random allocation. In an experimental design the participants can be randomly allocated to any condition or situation. Whereas, in a quasi-experimental design the option of random allocation is absent, which is due to the fact that the independent variable is a fixed quality of the participant. Therefore, Experiment 1 is a quasi-experiment, because the independent variable, the degree of superstition, is a quality of the participant and hence they cannot be randomly allocated to different conditions or situations (low or high believers). Describe how the ‘anagrams solved’ score (depicted in...
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...Maugan is portrayed as a man who believes in superstition, and this later creates issues for Merlin. Vortigern was constructing a fortress, but it would not stand higher than a man’s height; Maugan manages to convince his king, Vortigern, that the blood of a man who has no father must be spilled onto the foundation of his fortress. Merlin, who they believe has no human father, is the would-be sacrifice for this deed. Stewart portrays this logic as foolish, and through Merlin, calls Maugan a “charlatan”. This shows Mary Stewart’s true feelings about superstition as well; such beliefs are only held by misled people or frauds. Stewart also believes that superstition stems from a lack of proof and factual evidence about a subject. After Merlin makes the prophecy of of red and white dragons, and these dragons are seen in the forms of shooting stars, Vortigern sees this as evidence and dispels his previously held claim. Thusly, it can be seen that once evidence was shown to Vortigern about a different possibility for his problem, he eliminated his superstitious misconception based on the fact that...
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...Erica Simser Superstition and Religion According to most definitions of superstition, religion is a superstition. But ironically, most religions forbid or denounce its practice and belief. Also ironic is the many superstitions based on religions and held by many religious people. Christianity is one of the religions that expressly condemn superstition, yet many superstitions come from Christian origins. For instance, crossing your fingers for luck was originally another form of making a cross during prayer. Knocking on wood was akin to touching the cross and becoming closer to Jesus, not an act to ward off something you didn’t want to happen. Walking under a ladder was first an omen in ancient Egypt. They believed in a trinity of gods, so the triangle (the shape made when a ladder is open or leaned against a wall) was considered sacred and walking through it was a desecration to them. Christians borrowed this idea for their Holy Trinity as well. The number 13 being unlucky is believed to have been a result of the 13th member of “The Last Supper” being Judas Iscariot, Jesus’ betrayer. I personally don’t believe in superstition but my grandmother was a big believer. There are a lot on things that I remember her doing to ward off bad luck. One was when we would be at a checkout line at a store, if the amount due on the cash register was $6.66 (or anything that had those three numbers in it), she would grab a pack of gum to change the total. I also remember her throwing salt...
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...CHAPTER 4 SECTION 1 & 2 VOCABULARY TEST A. treadle B. folkways C. bulk D. seaboard E. blacksmiths F. coffle G. meager H. superstitions i. brick masons J. supplemented K. antebellum NAME ____________________________________________________ # ______ 1. _______________ large quantity 2. _______________ added to 3. _______________ period before the Civil War 4. _______________ foot peddles 5. _______________ a train of animals or slaves fastened together 6. _______________ by the sea 7. _______________ people who build with bricks 8. _______________ beliefs about magic and the super natural 9. _______________ ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that are shared by a group of people 10. _______________ a small amount 11. _______________ those who make horse shoes, plows and other metal items L. sparsely M. yeoman N. plantations O. navigable P. yearlings Q. bale R. isolated S. homespun T. statewide elections U. self-sufficient V. commercial agriculture 12. _______________ a loosely woven fabric usually made of linen or wool 13. _______________ a large bundle packaged for shipping, storage, or sale; often hay or cotton 14. _______________ large farms or estates often dedicated primarily to growing one primary crop 15. _______________ producing what one needs 16. _______________ large scale production of food or livestock for sale 17. _______________...
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...Name: Date: “Jenna and the Black Cat” Questions 1. Erica considers Jenna to be the kind of person who a. is proud of her schoolwork. b. cannot think straight. c. often helps others. d. doesn’t like soccer. 2. One theme of the story is that a. fears can be put aside in an emergency. b. bad luck comes in threes. c. superstitions are ridiculous. d. good friends always help each other. 3. Which of the following sentences supports the theme of the passage? a. Jenna was afraid of the ghost tree, but she still helped the kitten. b. Jenna volunteered as a tutor after school and worked at an animal shelter. c. Jenna told Erica to shake salt over her right shoulder after Erica walked under a ladder. d. Jenna wouldn’t wear the same color shirt two days in a row. 4. In the sentence, “After getting the salt to toss over her shoulder, Jenna and Erica began the walk from the mall back to Jenna’s house,” the pronoun “her” refers to a. Jenna. b. Erica. c. both Jenna and Erica. d. none of the above. 5. Write a paragraph about a different story you know that illustrates the same theme. If you can’t think of a story, make one up. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________...
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